Lovely sweet potato vines could once be found on sunny kitchen window sills everywhere.
And why not? Sweet potatoes are perfect for a kitchen garden plus they are beautiful and easy to grow. Best of all, everyone has the odd sweet potato now and then. That's all you need to start your garden or just a lovely plant.
Growing a sweet potato vine is also a great way to introduce kids to plants.
It's easy to do. Get a small jar you would normally throw out — maybe a pickle jar. Fill the jar halfway with water. Now put your sweet potato in it, making sure the top one-third is exposed. Typically, people insert toothpicks into the side of the potato to hold it out of the water.
In a few weeks, the sprouts begin to grow. If you want, you can plant it outside in a sunny spot.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
